Chapter Strategy
Filter by division:

Here Are 5 Themes for Your Next Chapter Meeting
Meeting themes are a great way to show your school that DECA is extraordinary. They also encourage and persuade someone unfamiliar with DECA to attend the meeting, boosting member retention.

Dancing With DECA: How to Go The Extra During Homecoming Week
The new school year starts with many events to amplify the school spirit, including football games, pep rallies, and, of course, homecoming. Here are three ways to make the most of it for your chapter!

Three Hats, One Head: Balancing School, Work and DECA
Between classes, jobs and DECA, finding balance takes that extra effort. Here are four tips to help you effectively balance responsibilities and make the most of every opportunity!

How to Place a Custom Order with Shop DECA
Looking to personalize your DECA gear? The Shop DECA team has made creating and ordering custom merchandise for your chapter simple and easy.

Shop DECA FAQs & Answers
How do I get a new blazer patch? Can I exchange or return a blazer? What is DECA+? The Shop DECA team is here to help answer some of your most frequently asked questions about Shop DECA products and processes.

Building and Leading a Strong Officer Team
Building a strong DECA officer team takes effort, but it can make all the difference in a chapter's success. Explore the values that build a strong chapter officer team!

Racing into the School Year: East Paulding DECA's Membership Recruitment Campaign and Tactics
At East Paulding DECA, we were pleasantly challenged when the national DECA "Go the Extra" theme was released. After much thought and discussion, we happily chose a thrilling race car theme for our school's campaign.

Advisor Best Practice Spotlight of the Week: Lisa Cline
Lisa Cline, DECA advisor at North Forsyth High School in Georgia, has built an SBE program that not only raises funds for her DECA chapter, but also prepares students with skills they will use for life.

Taking your Chapter’s SBE to the Extra Level
Once your SBE is up and running, the real challenge begins: growing it. Expanding your customer base, increasing sales and elevating your chapter’s presence takes strategy, creativity and a team ready to level up.

Activate Your Chapter Early for Exclusive Competitive Event Resources
Activate your chapter by September 30, 2025 to receive a free digital download of competition resources to help your chapter prepare for competition this year.

Advisor Best Practice Spotlight of the Week: Sean Lewis
Sean Lewis, DECA advisor and marketing teacher at Hillgrove High School in Georgia, has built a thriving chapter by blending classroom instruction with real-world business experiences.

8 Ways To Use the Membership Video for Back-to-School Recruitment
Discover eight ways members are using the 2025-26 DECA membership video during their events and meetings this back-to-school season and get ideas for your own chapter!

Fundraise Your Way to ICDC
Fundraising often gets a bad reputation for being too hard or not producing the desired outcome. However, by following the six keys to fundraising, you will soon find yourself with money to fund your chapter’s trip to ICDC.

6 Ways to Celebrate #CTEMonth
How can you celebrate CTE Month and show support for DECA and your school’s program? These are the six best ways you can help celebrate and advocate for support of CTE.

DECA Direct Magazine: Here We Go
The Back to School issue features tips on selecting your competitive event, a guide to setting goals for the upcoming year and everything you need to get started this year in DECA!

#Goals for Your Year
Before jumping into your goals for the year, it’s important to start with that passion. Why is DECA important? What can DECA do for the students in your school and your community? In a few sentences, explain your vision for your DECA chapter. If it was everything that it could be, what would it be? Use this vision as a guide as you are setting goals for your chapter.

Your Chapter's Best Year Yet
No matter your goals for the year, membership is the foundation of every DECA chapter. It’s important to plan ahead to reach potential new members and find innovative ways to engage your current members as well. With more than 10 years of DECA experience under their belts, Collegiate DECA Executive Officers Lindsay Joyner and Max May share their secrets to successfully growing chapter membership.

How to Incorporate an Entrepreneurial Attitude into Your DECA Chapter
You may be asking, “How does entrepreneurship apply to my chapter?” Well, the mission of DECA is to prepare emerging leaders and entrepreneurs. So why not get a head start? The same basic principles that apply to starting a business also apply to your chapter.

10 Ways to Put the Unity in Your CommUNITY Service Campaign
Community service is an amazing experience that allows us to leave our mark on the world, but getting other high school students involved can sometimes be difficult. Here's how to make it happen!